Rocky Ford's wrestling program has been as good as any in the state turning out state champs.

In coach Mike Jurney's 19 years as the Meloneers' mat man he's brought home 19 champs from Denver to the Arkansas Valley.

On Saturday night at the Pepsi Center, Adam Baca gave him a first. The 126-pound junior won his second consecutive Class 2A title by beating Paonia freshman Bo Pipher 5-2 at 126 pounds to become the first wrestler under Jurney's watch to become an undefeated champ, finishing 34-0.

"I love these kids and I love this sport, and there is not a better kid than Adam," said a tearful Jurney. "He deserves everything he gets."

What made Baca's repeat even more special was that he missed the entire month of January with a bum knee, and he still has no idea what is wrong with it.

Baca returned to win a regional title last week. On Saturday he trailed Pipher 2-1 after one period and held a slim 3-2 lead going to the third.

"It was tough, but at the same time when I was injured, I kept working hard," Baca said. "You can't stop, but at the same time you have to listen to what coach wants you to do."

Baca joined both Paonia's Jesse Reed and Highland's James Price as two-time winners on the 2A level.

Price, who won last season for the Huskies at 3A, used a move his two-time champion brother Austin taught him called the crucifix. He baited Dolores' Wyatt Wade into it and pinned him at 1 minute, 9 seconds to win the 145 pound crown.

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"He told me that move would be useful in high school and it was," said Price, who paraded around his 2-year old son, James V, after his victory. Once he put his arm around my leg, I knew I had something going."

"You've got to take it one year at a time," said Reed, who admitted there is a small part of his brain that allows him to think about four. "Yeah, I've thought about it, but then I have to keep myself in check."

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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